JanePost

My cousin and art historian plans to take her students to several countries in Europe, among them Vienna in August 2005. Some kids wanna go there earlier to see the horse show by Spanish Riding School. Is it worth rearranging the trip and travel routes?

Thanks en avance : )

janepost

JanePost

That means they should go to Vienna in June, right?

sundown

I've never been myself but my mother thoroughly enjoyed a trip to the school a couple years back. Of course, she's a major horse person.

I couldn't find 2005 schedules but your question about being there in June would have been correct for this year--no performances in July, August or November. You can tour the stables and see them practicing basically anytime, however.

One thing you may want to keep in mind is they have been touring North America with the Lipizzaner Stallions. Not sure if the tour is still going on but they were here in Colorado a few months back. If they came near you it might be an opportunity to either whet the kids appetite or take the place of seeing them in Vienna, depending on how your plans work out.

DeirdreStraughan

If you like horses at all, and maybe even if you don't - yes, o absolutely yes. See http://www.straughan.com/travel/austria.htm

If you can't get to the formal show, there are "exercises" open to the public in the mornings, in which you can see most of the same moves, though done individually and randomly - you don't get the full impact of all the horses doing it together.

DeirdreStraughan

ps When we were there at Easter, the tour of the stables was no longer part of the museum entrance fee; I'm not sure whether they will allow visitors into the stables at all anymore.

BetsyG

We were there last June & were not allowed to tour the stables or even look in at the horses. The show was amazing but my daughter is a horse person & I do have an appreciation of what they can do (and not do). I'm not sure the horses that were on tour here (Colorado again) were actually from the Spanish Riding School, although the ad said Lippazaner, it was not clear.
The Spanish Riding School Museum was very interesting, also.

Giovanna

We were in Vienna in May 2003 and unfortunately there was no performance while we were there. We did go to a morning rehearsal, however, and were glad we did.

We had seen the Andalusian horse performance in Jerez de la Frontera several years ago and it was wonderful. Had there been a show while we were in Vienna we definitely would have reserved.

KK2

We attended a performance over New Years Eve two years ago -- and it was great. If you reserve early you can book seats in the King's box - they were more expensive but kind of fun. The other seats were really good as well though. These are amzing animals - but I would combine some other terrific things in Vienna to make it worthwhile - the symphony and the Vienna Boys Choir would be nice additions.

MaureenB

My daughter and I are both horse-lovers and we attended the Spaning Riding School 'morning exercise with music' and a tour of the stables in Vienna this past June. We have seen the horses perform a few times in Colorado, too, but it's not the same as seeing the best of them performing in that beautiful winter riding school. We weren't there on a Sunday to see a bona fide performance, but the exercises are very good, too, and they go on for three hours. If it's not too much trouble for your cousin, I'd suggest she consider changing her itinerary to fit in the horses, especially since some of her students are so interested. The horses don't perform in Vienna, though, from about June 20 through the summer, so they could miss them anyway. And if they do go, get tickets in advance if possible, and get in line early to get a good seat on the first floor. Because seats on the second floor are too far above the activity to see very well.

MaureenB

P.S. To clarify, when I say "first floor", I mean the first floor of seating, not on the arena floor itself!

BetsyG

We had standing room only seats on the second floor, ordered on-line. They were great and a lot less expensive then the seats we were standing directly behind!

brosar

I agree wholeheartedly with Maureen B. It's well worth the effort to visit the Lippazaner musuem and see the morning rehearsals with music. You see primarily the same exercises, and they end with their signature moves, so you don't miss out. The price difference is significant, and the rehearsals are held in the same venue as the true shows. Also, while visiting the musuem you can see the stables and watch the riders interacting with their mounts post-show. I'd say do it! What kid wouldn't want to see horses that seem to fly??

MaureenB

One thing I forgot to mention that makes a big difference is that the horses rarely perform the "airs above the ground" in their morning exercise routine. Their brochure explains that these are such demanding moves that the horses aren't asked to perform them more often than necessary. So, if you attend the 'morning exercise with music', don't plan on seeing the horses leaping. It's still well-worth it, in my opinion, and it's much less expensive than an actual performance, but do be aware of this difference in making your decision.

brosar

I must have caught them at a strange rehearsal time, then, because I was able to see them do several of their "air" moves right at the end of the practice. I guess it just depends on your luck!

bckay1

We were in Vienna in May and I got a reservation to see the training session. Although we saw the horses exercising we didn't really know what we were looking at. We stayed for about 2 1/2 hours so might have missed anything special at the end.

We didn't get tickets to the performances as they were very expensive...however the horses were here in the Tucson arena in September and we went to see them here. What was good was that the explanations were in English. I don't know what they would have been in Vienna.

DeirdreStraughan

I don't know if the ones touring the States are actually affiliated with the Spanish Riding School, though they are the same breed and trained similarly.

The official performance at the Spanish Riding School includes explanations in several languages. It's true that you can see the individual moves during morning exercises, but you do not see the horses moving together in carefully-coordinated lines - it's horse ballet. Plus the performance is choreographed to classical music. And they also do a demonstration with carriages.


best regards,
Deirdré Straughan

http://www.straughan.com

JanePost

Now I'm 100% positive that the show isn't another tourist trap and it's worth the reschedule.

Thanks for one and every comment from you guys. I really appreciate your kindness.